Question on putting weight in rear for winter driving

Used to add 5 or 6 100lb tractor weights on a sheet of plywood back in the 80's in my 2x4's, now with 4x4 I don't add anything.

 

I put four or five 60# bags of tube sand over the rear axle. As others have mentioned, partly for the additional weight and partly for traction if I ever get hung up on sheer ice. Even in 4WD, the additional weight out back helps a lot. I spend a lot of time on snow covered and icy roads in the snow belts south of Buffalo... and the Tundra is great.

 

They are AT tires. Well... the 360lbs MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.... actually it's probably a little much. I tested spinning out in 2WD on an slightly icy and very mud road this morning and I tested the ABS brakes at speed. It performed exceptionally well. The same road two weeks ago almost put me in the ditch making a 5 mph turn and it wasn't even very wet.

So I'm pretty happy. That means in 4WD I should be able to go anywhere I could with my '99 Dodge.

Should I reduce it down from 360lbs? It wallows a little in turns. But the shocks at 145K could be going bad. The truck seems to float a little, but it is the Limited trim and not off road TRD... if that matters.

 

I think 240# is plenty personally. Squats the rear down a bit and softens the ride on my Limited TRD. On my SR5, without the lift, it rides pretty soft anyways. The ‘19 is always loaded down with tools and/or a heavy trailer for work. I’ll probably still throw a couple bags of tube sand in there when winter really sets in around here.